Little did United States Ambassador Harry Thomas realize that his comments on sex tourism and child trafficking during a roundtable discussion with a group of appellate court justices would ignite a maelstrom of controversy. “I estimate that maybe up to 40 percent of foreign men who come here come for sexual tourism and that is unacceptable,” he said.… Read More »
In 2004, I wrote an article titled, “Hey, do you want to buy buko juice?” (PerryScope, December 10, 2004). At that time, although buko juice – or Coco juice — was then being sold in markets in the United States, it was mostly distributed in Asian markets. You couldn’t find them in mainstream markets then. The following is… Read More »
September 30, 2011 marks the 73rd anniversary of the Munich Agreement, which was signed by the major powers of Europe to appease Germany’s Adolf Hitler from attacking Germany’s neighbors. After the signing, Britain’s Neville Chamberlain and France’s Edouard Deladier triumphantly brought home the “solemn pledge” signed by Hitler and Italy’s Benito Mussolini. Chamberlain proudly announced to Londoners, “peace… Read More »
“Figaro” is the name of the main character in the play, “The Barber of Seville,” which was first played in 1775. But today – or should I say in the last decade – “Figaro” was the name of the most powerful and, allegedly, the most corrupt person in the Philippines. You don’t read “Figaro” everyday in the newspapers.… Read More »
Finally, after five years of being classified as “Top Secret,” the Aquino administration released the “Mayuga Report” but only after the Department of Defense reviewed it. Oddly, but not surprising, the report cleared four generals of alleged involvement in the “Hello Garci” election cheating scandal in 2004. Those cleared were generals Hermogenes Esperon, Roy Kyamko, Gabriel Habacon, and… Read More »
The scandal that erupted under the watchful eye of Bureau of Customs Commissioner Angelito “Joselito” Alvarez has created a maelstrom of controversy calling for an investigation and dismissal of Alvarez. But, strangely, Malacañang doesn’t seem to know – or chose not to know – what’s going on at the Bureau of Customs since January 2011 when the first… Read More »
Last July 31, 2011, while former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was in intensive care at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City recuperating from a spinal surgery caused by a pinched nerve, her husband Mike left for Hong Kong for a medical checkup. He could have gone to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City where he… Read More »
Former Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, the accused mass murderer of “Maguindanao Massacre” infamy almost convinced President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III into considering him as state witness in the multiple murder case against his father Andal Ampatuan Sr., his brother Andal Ampatuan Jr., and himself. P-Noy seemed to entertain the notion after he heard Zaldy’s “confession” during an interview with… Read More »
Once known as the “Murder Capital” of the Philippines, Davao City once again topped the headlines when Mayor Sara Duterte – surrounded by armed police bodyguards — beat a sheriff while hundreds of horrified people watched. Duterte was caught on video camera punching sheriff Abe Andres – an officer of the court – several times while he was… Read More »
No sooner had Virginia Torres returned to her post than she started getting all the flak from critics as well as allies of President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III. As one of P-Noy’s “shooting buddies,” Torres has become the lightning rod for all the things that could go wrong in P-Noy’s administration. In an arrogant display of defiance on… Read More »